---
name: "pslist"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "pslist"
version: "1.4.0-4"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/pslist"
---

# pslist(1)

control processes and their descendants

## NAME

**pslist** – control processes and their descendants

## SYNOPSIS

**pslist** \[*pid/name...*\]

**pslist** *-h* \| *--help*

**pslist** *-v* \| *--version*

**rkill** \[**-SIG**\] *pid/name...*

**rrenice** *\[+/-\]pri* *pid/name...*

## DESCRIPTION

The **pslist** utility examines the list of current processes to find a specified process and all its descendants. A process may be specified either by name or by process ID. If no arguments are given, **pslist** displays a list of the whole process tree. For each process specified on the command line, **pslist** outputs a line containing the process ID, the command name, and the PIDs of all the descendants (and their descendants, etc.).

When invoked as **rkill**, this utility does not display information about the processes, but sends them all a signal instead. If not specified on the command line, a terminate (SIGTERM) signal is sent.

When invoked as **rrenice**, this utility does not display information about the processes, but attempts to set their nice value instead.

## RETURN VALUES

The **pslist** utility exits 0 on success, and \>0 if an error occurs.

## SEE ALSO

[pgrep(1)](/pgrep/1.md), [pkill(1)](/pkill/1.md)

## HISTORY

The **pslist** utility was written by Peter Pentchev in 2000.

## AUTHORS

Peter Penchev ⟨roam@ringlet.net⟩